Judicial hopefuls prep for primary

Saturday

AUSTIN - Primary races in the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court seldom get much attention, partly because the incumbents often get a pass or draw no more than one challenger.

For instance, in the last two primaries, one justice ran unopposed and two others drew one challenger each. And in 2008, all three incumbents up for re-election ran unopposed.

This year is no different. Of the four justices on the March 4 ballot, three drew one challenger each, including Phil Johnson of Lubbock in Place 8. The fourth is running unopposed.

Though three of the nine justices are normally on the ballot every two years running for six-year terms, there are four now because Chief Justice Nathan Hecht - whom Gov. Rick Perry elevated to the position last year after Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson resigned - is running again.

Hecht - who was first elected in 1988 and is the longest-serving member of the court in Texas history - was re-elected as a justice two years ago.

Another reason Texas Supreme Court and other judicial races seldom get much attention is because - unlike non-judicial statewide contests - the incumbents, challengers and candidates for open seats usually run low-key campaigns.

In addition to Hecht and Johnson, the other two justices running for re-election are Jeff Brown of Place 6 and Jeff Boyd of Place 7. Boyd is the only one running unopposed in the GOP primary.

Johnson, whom Perry appointed to the high court in 2005, said he is seeking his second six-year term because "given my experience and background, I have a lot to offer."

"My experience as a private attorney, my years in the 7th Court of Appeals in Amarillo and my more than eight years in the Texas Supreme Court are real assets," Johnson said.

Before Perry appointed him to the high court, Johnson was chief justice of the 7th Court of Appeals in Amarillo. In addition, from 1975 through 1998, he practiced law with the Lubbock firm of Crenshaw, Dupree & Milam LLP, where one of his colleague was Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock.

"I am still in that mode, to serve the people of Texas," said Johnson, who received his undergraduate and law degrees from Texas Tech University.

None of the other justices could be reached for comment.

On their websites, the incumbents, as well as their challengers, give their reasons for running.

Hecht said on his Facebook page he looks forward "to continuing to serve" and "promoting a consistent, predictable judiciary for years to come."

Brown, who Perry appointed in September when he appointed Hecht chief justice, said on his website he is a "strong candidate for (the) state's highest court" and posted a long list of qualifications that included justice in the 14th Court of Appeals, judge in the 55th District Court and private practice.

The three Republicans challenging Hecht, Brown and Johnson said they are just as qualified.

Former state Rep. Robert Talton, who is trying to unseat Hecht, described himself as a "conservative who does not believe in judicial activism."

"Judges should interpret the law - not legislate," Talton, who represented Pasadena-based House District 144 for 16 years, said on his campaign's website.

"The law should be applied fairly and equally to all parties," his website reads.

"And I believe that our system of trial by jury - overseen by a fair, impartial and independent judiciary - protects our rights as citizens and ensures that justice is done."

Joe Pool Jr., who is challenging Brown, said he is running because he values the constitutional rights of all Texans and wants to restore them.

"Since 2000, 74 percent of all jury verdicts reviewed by the Texas Supreme Court have been overturned," Pool said in a video posted on his campaign's website.

"The proper role of the judiciary is to uphold our rights, not deny them."

Sharon McCally, who is challenging Johnson, is running because "a vote cast for me is a vote cast for Republican principles," she said in a video.

"My vote is not for sale," McCally said. "There is a lot of money changing hands at the Texas Supreme Court, a lot of influence attempts, but it will have no impact on me."

Johnson said that though he has not watched McCally's video, he takes exception with her remarks, which a reporter read to him.

"You can make whatever allegations you want, but where is the proof?" Johnson said. "In my view, allegations of corruption in this court are simply false."

The winner of the Johnson-McCally contest is virtually guaranteed the Supreme Court seat for the next six years because no Democrat is running.

The Democrats running for the three other seats - William Moody of El Paso, Lawrence Edward Meyers of Forth Worth and Gina Benavides of McAllen - are running unopposed in their party's primary.

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